COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA STATED MEETING Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Thursday, April 19, 2012 10:20 a.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILWOMAN CINDY BASS COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE BLACKWELL COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN BILL GREEN COUNCILMAN WILLIAM K. GREENLEE COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON COUNCILMAN CURTIS JONES, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES KENNEY COUNCILMAN DENNIS O'BRIEN COUNCILMAN DAVID OH COUNCILMAN BRIAN J. O'NEILL COUNCILWOMAN MARIA D. QUINONES-SANCHEZ COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN MARK SQUILLA COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO MICHAEL A. DECKER,
Good morning, everyone. (Good morning.)
The hour has come. We have established a quorum. Council will please come to order. I would ask that all guests and visitors please go behind the rail, and ask that all members be seated, and we will proceed. To give our invocation this morning, the Chair recognizes the Imam Shadeed Muhammad of the United Muslim Masjid of Philadelphia. He is here today as the guest of Councilman James Kenney. I would ask all members and guests to please rise. (All members and guests rise.)
Good morning. In the name of Allah, the magnificent, the merciful, we pray. Oh, Allah, we praise you and we thank you for the honor and the mercy to us this morning. Today, we ask you to oversee these proceedings and to grant guidance and wisdom and protection to the leaders, representatives, Councilmen and women, as well as the Mayor of this great city. We ask you, oh Allah, to grant us the appreciation for the commitment to excellence and the dedication to the service that these men and women have rendered to the citizens of the City. Oh, Allah, we implore you by your authority over your creation and your omnipotence and your power to do as you please to bestow your blessings upon this city and upon us, and grant us the safety and security that is necessary to provide the quality of life that is suitable for every citizen in the City of Philadelphia. Oh, Allah, we ask you to restore the prosperity and optimism the citizens of this great city once knew. Oh, Allah, guide us in our endeavors and extend to us your mercy, forgive us of our sins and iniquities, and strengthen us in the areas where we are weak. Grant us the endurance that is necessary for us to achieve our goals and objectives, despite the many obstacles that confront us, for where there is no struggle, there is no progress. In the name of Allah, we praise. Amen. (Amen.)
Thank you, Imam, for those inspiring words. Council will be at ease. (Council at ease.)
Thank you. The next order of business is the approval of the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, April 12th, 2012. The Chair recognizes Councilman
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the Journal of the meeting of Thursday, April 12th, 2012 be approved. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The Journal of the meeting of Thursday, April 12th, 2012 stands approved. The next order of business is requests for leaves of absence. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. On behalf of the majority, there are no requests for
The Chair thanks the gentleman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Mr. President, on behalf of the republicans, there are no requests for leave of absence.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair will dispense with the regular order of business to welcome everyone here today. As usual, we are very proud to be able to present democracy in action, live and in living color. We hope that your experience today will be a wonderful one, and we look forward to seeing you come back again. So, again, thank you so much for your participation today. At this time, the Chair will recognize Councilwoman Blackwell, who will present a resolution recognizing Black and those accompanying her please come to the podium.
Mr. President, may I likewise note that we have many guests here today from Jamaica. We are recognizing the week of April 22nd to the 28th Jamaica Week in Philadelphia in honor of their 50th Anniversary. There are over 100,000 people of the African Caribbean Diaspora here in Philadelphia alone, and the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honorable Portia Simpson-Miller, will visit Philadelphia on April 28th to go to the Penn Relays, where they always do quite well and beat us out. And we have the Honorary Consul Dr. Alston Meade and Stanley Straughter, who is Chairman of the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and many other guests here today.
Thank you, Councilwoman. I would ask them to please
Thank you for being here today. I see that Councilwoman Blackwell is joined by Councilman Jones.
Resolution also naming Haverford Avenue from Fifty-Second Street to Fifty-Eighth Street, quote/unquote, "Geneva Black Way." Whereas, Ms. Geneva Black has been a pillar in her community in the Haddington section of West Philadelphia for more than forty years, in our community; Whereas, in 1970, Ms. Black joined the Haddington Leadership Organization serving as its Housing Coordinator where she helped seniors secure housing and public assistance benefits. In a recent interview, she explained, quote, At that time, they needed a social worker to get into the homes to help people meet the criteria to get a grant or loan, and most of the people's homes I went into were elderly, end of quote; and Whereas, her passion for the job and her honest concern for the people she served endeared her to the Haddington community. Quote, I would walk the streets and I gained the trust of the people, got the confidence of the people, because they would always see me in the neighborhood and got to know who I was. And when I helped a couple of people, the word got around, she says; and Whereas, in 1972, Ms. Black became the Executive Director of the Haddington Leadership Organization which at that time had just three employees. But Ms. Black's work caught the attention of City policymakers, including former Mayor Bill Green who provided her the assistance of a grant writer to help her I turn the mic over to my colleague, let me note, even now we call her regularly as our contact to help seniors with many of their issues, with the hard problems, with all kinds of help across the board. Whether it be health, whether it be lodging, whether it be their benefits, she's always been there for everyone, and we love her and say God bless her.
Ms. Black eventually in 1975 said, We were funded by the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging. That's when I founded the program and we named it the Haddington Multiple Services for Older Adults (HMSOA). Our first funding was $145,000 to provide 60 meals a day to seniors, along with some social services; and Whereas, in 1985, Haddington Multiple Services for Older Adults assumed the responsibility of In-Home Support Unit from another agency and grew has a full-time staff of 25 and an annual budget topping $1 million; Whereas, the organization's work now includes providing information, referral services, counseling, benefits and entitlement information, legal services, food, education, transportation and case management; and Whereas, Ms. Black's works and its impacts on the Haddington community and the City of Philadelphia warrants the recognition and appreciation of this Council and the City at large; now therefore, be it Resolved, that Haverford Avenue from Fifty-Second Street to Fifty-Eighth Street also be named "Geneva Black Way"; and Therefore, resolved that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented as a sincere expression of the City Council's recognition and appreciation. Signed by Councilwoman Curtis Jones. And I just want to say that Haddington sits exactly across the street from my district, and the only thing Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell and I fight about is her. (Applause.)
The Chair recognizes Ms. Black. Ms. Black, please come for remarks.
First, giving honor to God, who is the first person in my life, who brought me to this place, who charged me with the mission to serve people and my community. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell for introducing the bill for the street naming and to Councilman Curtis Jones who supported and the City it, and Mayor Nutter as well who helped us get our last facility, to Willie Jordan for the important role he played in this process. Many years ago, over 43 years, there was a woman named Marie Shoemate. She was my mentor, who believed in me and who gave me full freedom to work in the neighborhood, and that was the beginning of my experience in Haddington area. She expired on her 82nd birthday because she moved to Florida, and that was about 35 years ago. And it come true to the program for older adults. Another woman named Barbara Coscarella, and that's the grant writer who now lives in another state, she worked at that time for the City of Philadelphia. To all the older adults who volunteer to make this program work, thank you. To the dedicated social workers and staff at Haddington Senior Center, my family, who has always supported me, thank you and I love you. I am overwhelmed with this honor. I think there is no words that can express really the way I feel today. Thank you, everybody, and God bless you. (Applause.)
Thank you. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to take a moment to welcome students from Eastern University. I had an opportunity to lecture to them and I spoke so glowingly about this body, I just wanted to give them an opportunity to see you up close in person. Ms. Nielsen, Ms. Bergman and Ms. Bunion, and be recognized by Council. (Applause.)
Thank you, Councilman. And welcome. At this time, the Chair recognizes Councilman Green, who will present a resolution proclaiming the week of April 20th, 2012 to April 28th, 2012 as the "Second Annual Philly Tech Week." Would Chris Wink and those accompanying him please join the Councilman at the podium. I see that Councilman is joined by Councilman Oh, Councilwoman Sanchez and Councilwoman Bass.
I'd like to recognize the founders of Technically Philly who are here and started Philly Tech Week. We've got Brian James Kirk, Sean Blanda and Christopher Wink, and also Joe Devas is here from AT&T, who was the Second Annual Philly Tech Week. Whereas, the Philadelphia technology, innovation and creative communities are again coming together to celebrate their importance to the region's economy, culture and future; and
Whereas, the Philadelphia technology community, with leadership from local technology news organization Technically Philly, has again organized a series of more than 70 scheduled events around technology and innovation in Philadelphia called Philly Tech Week and scheduled for April 20th, 2012 to April 28th, 2012; and
Whereas, this week includes events such as Startup Weekend, Switch Philly, What It Takes to Be a Black Entrepreneur, Computer Literacy for Senior Citizens, Social Media for Non-Profits, the Philly Robotics Expo, the Digital Bridge, Entrepreneur Expo, the Hack Gallery Show iOS Games; and Whereas, the organizing groups include Independents Hall, Philly Startup Leaders, NextFab Studio, Hive 76, the Hacktory, Non-Profit Technology Resources, the Little Berlin exhibition space, and the Philadelphia Game Lab; and
Whereas, the participating institutions include the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the City of Philadelphia, the Wharton School of Business, Temple and Drexel Universities, the University of the Arts, the University City Science Center, the Knight Foundation, the Franklin Institute and WHYY; and Whereas, the sponsoring businesses include Comcast, Ticketleap, Aweber, First Round Capital, Dell Boomi, SEER Interactive, DreamIt Ventures, Morgan Lewis, Tropo, T-Mobile, Azavea, RJ Metrics, Chariot Solutions, Duck Duck Go, and Little Giant Media; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, by the Council of the City of Philadelphia, that it declares the week of April 20th, 2012 to April 28th, 2012 as the "Second Annual Philly Tech Week presented by AT&T"; encourages all Philadelphians to participate in the series of scheduled events, conversation and action around technology and innovation; and commends the broad technology community for creating jobs, increasing community and remaining committed to the betterment of Philadelphia. Further resolved, that an engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the representatives of Philly Tech Week as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
Very briefly, I just wanted to say we have been here before. My colleagues, Brian James Kirk, Sean Blanda and I were here last year. We want to thank Councilman Green and Sanchez and David Oh and others who supported this resolution. I know you guys do a lot of these resolutions, but I wanted to remind last year, for the new faces, the many new faces of Council, last year we came here and said from a technology community that this is not just gadgets, this is a community that builds businesses and helps make government more transparent, and we really are interested in a conversation of low-income Philadelphians having access to the digital revolution. Again, we know Council does a lot of these resolutions, so we come with one single ask from a very small technology new site and a growing technology community, and, that is, to come to a single technology community be more than 80 over the next week, but even beyond that, the technology community hosts events nearly every night of the week every month of the year. These are civic-minded hackathons. These are entrepreneur startup demo events. These are our low-income computer literacy events. These are events that are shaping what Philadelphia looks like, how it does business and how it interacts and is seen around the world. And I encourage any of you to reach out. As a new site, we cover and organize a lot of these events, and love to show you how vibrant the community is. So thank you all and thanks for the opportunity. I really appreciate it. Thanks. (Applause.)
time, I'd like to recognize Councilman O'Neill, who will present a resolution in solemn recognition during the week of April 16th through April 23rd, 2012 as the Annual Remembrance of the Six Million Jewish Martyrs, who perished during the Holocaust. Would Ruth Littner Shaw and those accompanying her please join the Councilman at the podium.
Mr. President, thank you. I'd like to welcome back Robin Schatz, who's the Government Affairs Chief for the Federation. Robin worked many years in this building and in this room, first for Mayor Rendell and then for Councilman Frank DiCicco. Robin, I know you're the glue that keeps us all together. So let me begin. Resolution in solemn recognition during the week of April 16th 23rd, 2012 as the Annual Remembrance of the Six Million Jewish Martyrs, who perished during the Holocaust. Whereas, over sixty years ago, six million Jews were murdered in the Nazi Holocaust as part of a systemic program of genocide, and millions of other people suffered as victims of Nazism; and Whereas, the people of the City of Philadelphia should continually rededicate themselves to the principle of equal justice for all; and Whereas, the people of the City of Philadelphia should remain eternally vigilant against all tyranny, and recognize that bigotry provides a breeding ground for tyranny to flourish; Whereas, the Memorial Committee for the six million Jewish martyrs has chosen as the theme for this year's memorial "The Legacy of the Holocaust from Generation to Generation." This on the continued need for successive generations to remember the Holocaust, and will feature poems and readings and music that speak to the theme. We applaud the Committee for the honor they will bestow on the memory of those who perished and on those who survived to build and strengthen life in Philadelphia and other communities; Whereas, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and the Memorial Committee for the six million Jewish martyrs invite all citizens of Philadelphia and the region to join in the commemoration ceremony on April 22nd, 2012 in front of the Holocaust Monument on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 1 o'clock to 2:30 p.m. Therefore, by virtue of this resolution, the Council of the City of Philadelphia does hereby recognize the week of April 16th through April 23rd, 2012 as the Annual Remembrance of the Six further recognize the horror of the Holocaust, and extend to the Memorial Committee the respect and admiration of this legislative body. It's signed by the President of our City Council, Darrell Clarke, and co-sponsored by every Councilmember. (Applause.)
On behalf of the Jewish Community Relations Council of the Federation of Greater Philadelphia, I'm pleased to be here today to receive City Council's resolution recognizing Sunday, April 22nd, 2012 as Holocaust Remembrance Day memorializing the six million Jewish martyrs who were murdered during World War II. I would like to thank City Council President Darrell Clarke, members of the City Council for this recognition. This year's Memorial program focuses on the legacy of the Holocaust. The atrocities carried out by the Nazis and their collaborators directly upon the Jews of Europe and Russia have impacted generations to come. Six million were murdered and did not live to bear millions of children who may have developed cures for diseases, created literature and art to astound the world or taught children lessons that would have developed minds and intrigued youngsters to search for knowledge and peace. So many children of World War II veterans and camp liberators were impacted when their fathers related stories of the emaciated, diseased and tortured victims they had found when the war ended overseas. And, of course, the greatest legacy of all was received from those who were lucky enough to survive Holocaust, those who witnessed the horrors of war and who passed along their nightmares, memories and post-traumatic stress to the subsequent generation through their words, actions and even silence. My own parents survived the Holocaust, but no one else in my family did. My grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins were all brutally tortured and murdered, and I can personally attest to the legacy of the Holocaust, the loneliness regarding my family, the anxiety and the guilt of survivorship. But we can find a positive legacy from this evil era. We can take these lessons and hope that we and generations to come learn to not repeat the cruelty, intolerance and injustice that sparked the annihilation. Teaching the positive lessons of the legacy we received can influence an entire generation to work towards peace and tolerance. Failing to teach the lessons lead to repetition of those dark days. It is our hope that future generations will continue to learn about this deplorable period. This history was not so long ago. Some children in high school today may have grandfathers or great-grandfathers who fought in this war and witnessed these atrocities. It is our hope that the legacy and lessons of the Holocaust are passed from generation to generation to keep alive the memory of the six million martyrs and to try to prevent such a ghastly event from ever occurring again. We very much appreciate the consideration of the members of City Council of Philadelphia for continuing to support these efforts. We invite you to share in this commemoration this Sunday on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway at 1:00 p.m. In case of rain, the event will be held in Rodeph Shalom at Broad and Spring Garden Streets. (Applause.)
Thank you. The next order of business is communications. The Chair requests that the Sergeant-At-Arms deliver the messages from the Mayor to the Chief Clerk. The Chief Clerk will please read the messages from the Mayor.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, I am pleased to advise you that on April 18, 2012, I signed the following bill that was passed by Council at its session on April 12, 2012: Bill No. 120169-A; and I am transmitting for the consideration of your honorable body a resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the South Central Urban Renewal Area, designated as Parcel No. 312 and also sometimes identified by house number and street address as 1122 through 30 Hall Street; and Also a resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington - Fishtown Urban Renewal Area, identified by house number and street address as 2219 Frankford Avenue; and An ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 080544) approved November 19, 2008, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Pan No. 163 by relocating the southwesterly houseline and curbline of Ridge Avenue near Calumet Street," by extending the the terms and conditions stated therein; and Also an ordinance amending Chapter 19-2600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Business Income and Receipts Taxes," by amending Section 19-2602 thereof, entitled "Licenses," to add a new subsection requiring licensees operating a business premises to cooperate in the reporting and investigation of violent crimes on or near the premises; and An ordinance approving a Substantial Amendment to the Year 37 Consolidated Plan for Fiscal Year 2012 and application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for approximately $1,260,836 in Emergency Solutions Grant funding, all under certain terms and conditions.
Thank you. Those messages will be printed in the Journal. Mr. Decker, do you have any other messages?
Thank you. The next order of business is the introduction of bills and resolutions. The Chair recognizes Councilmember Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. On my behalf and on several members of Council's behalf, I introduce one resolution to be heard today.
A privileged resolution recognizing the contributions of Philadelphia's alternative and ethnic newspapers and the strong support given them under the banner of the Philadelphia Multi-Cultural Media Network and its new masthead, The Liberty City Press.
That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. Today I introduce four non-privileged resolutions.
A resolution recognizing the week of April 22nd to April 28th as Jamaica Week in Philadelphia in honor of Jamaica's 50th Independence Anniversary.
That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a resolution calling on community leaders to assist the Philadelphia Fire Department by speaking with their neighbors about the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, as well as assisting their communities to become informed about fire safety.
That resolution will also be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a privileged resolution declaring June 2012 as Local Independent Media Month in Philadelphia and recognizing the Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) for their work in promoting economic and social justice.
That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Twenty-Fourth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one resolution, which is co-sponsored by you and Councilmembers Henon, Johnson and Tasco.
A privileged resolution honoring Commissioner Joan M. Schlotterbeck upon her retirement and recognizing her years of service and dedication to the City of Philadelphia, especially her accomplishments as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Property.
That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one bill with 15 co-sponsors.
An ordinance amending Title 4 of The Philadelphia Code, the Philadelphia Building Construction and Occupancy Code, to provide for the designation of certain properties as nuisance properties, the creation of a Problem Property Task Force to address such properties, and to further provide for penalties for, and remediation of, such nuisance properties.
That ordinance will be referred to the appropriate committee. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have one non-privileged resolution.
A resolution authorizing City Council's Committee on Commerce and Economic Development to hold hearings to examine youth employment opportunities in Philadelphia.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Nineteenth Ward of the City of Philadelphia.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Brien.
Thank you, Mr. President. I have no bills or resolutions today.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Goode.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer no bills or resolutions.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Thank you, Mr. President. No bills or resolutions this morning.
Thank you, Councilwoman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Jones.
Thank you, Mr. President. Two bills, one on your behalf and one non-privileged resolution on your behalf.
An ordinance approving a Substantial Amendment to the Year 37 Consolidated Plan and application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for approximately $1,260,836 in Emergency Solutions Grant funding.
That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And an ordinance amending Section 2 of an ordinance (Bill No. 080544) approved November 19, 2008, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the revision of lines and grades on a portion of City Plan No. 163 by relocating the southwesterly houseline and curbline of Ridge Avenue near Calumet Street."
That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution amending Resolution No. 120001, which provides Rules for the Government of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, by revising the definition of "privileged resolutions" to include resolutions authorizing one or more committees of Council to hold hearings.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Neill.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilman Squilla.
Thank you, Mr. President. I offer one resolution and one bill.
An ordinance amending Section 9-213 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Farmers' Markets," by removing as a permissible location the sidewalk of the east side of South Broad Street between Porter and Ritner Streets and by adding the sidewalk of the east side of South Broad Street between Snyder and Jackson Streets as a permissible location.
That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the New Kensington - Fishtown Urban Renewal Area identified by house number and street address as 2219 Frankford Avenue.
That resolution will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Bass.
Good morning, Mr. President. I offer one bill, two resolutions, one privileged, one non-privileged.
An ordinance continuing the Mt. Airy Business Improvement District beyond its termination date, in an area that generally includes both sides of Germantown Avenue from 6300 to 7631 and certain blocks of streets that interact that portion of Germantown Avenue and for which Mt. Airy Improvement District, Inc., a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, is the Neighborhood Improvement District Management Association for the District.
That bill will be referred to the appropriate committee.
And a non-privileged resolution urging the Pennsylvania State Legislature to pass Senate Bill 236 which would amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in assault, by adding Public Transportation Employees to the list of protected individuals.
That resolution be will placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar.
And a non-privileged resolution initiating action to continue the Mt. Airy Business Improvement District beyond its termination date in an area that generally includes both sides of Germantown Avenue from 6300 to 7631 and certain blocks of streets that intersect that portion of Germantown Avenue for which Mt. Airy Improvement District Management Association, approving a preliminary plan for and report concerning the District.
That will be placed on next week's Final Passage Calendar. The Chair recognizes Councilman Oh.
A privileged resolution declaring the historic Gazela Primeiro as the official Tall Ship of the City of Philadelphia.
That resolution will be placed on today's Final Passage Calendar. That concludes the introduction of bills and resolutions. The next order of business is reports from committees. The Chair recognizes Councilman from the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities reports one bill with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you. The Chief Clerk will please read the report.
To the President and members of the Council of the City of Philadelphia, the Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities, to which was referred Bill No. 120251, entitled "An ordinance authorizing the Procurement Commissioner on behalf of the City of Philadelphia, to enter into a concession agreement for the development, operation and maintenance of an airport advertising program at Philadelphia International Airport," respectfully reports it has considered the same and to Council with a favorable recommendation.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I move that the rules of Council be suspended so as to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 120251. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The rules of Council shall be suspended to permit first reading this day of Bill No. 120251. Thank you. The next order of business is the consideration of the Calendar. I note that the bill just 2ND READING reported from committee with a suspension of the rules has been deemed to have had a first reading. This bill will be placed on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar for the next session of Council. As there are no additional bills on the First Reading Calendar, the Chair now recognizes Councilman Jones for the purpose of calling up resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage.
Thank you, Mr. President. The following resolutions and bills are being called up for Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar today: Nos. 120150-A, 120279, 120280, 120282, 120283, 120285, 120286, 120004, 120171 and 120252. All other resolutions and bills are being held.
Thank you. Before considering the resolutions and bills, we will consider public comment. I'd just like to say to the individuals in the audience, we have a new structure with respect to public comment. All of your comment is very important to us, but we want to do it in a way that will allow maximum participation. On the podium you will see a device. That device indicates a three-minute limit for your public comment. When the light turns yellow, that means you have 30 seconds to conclude your remarks. And I ask you to please respect this particular device and this Council and this process, because we want to ensure that everybody has an ample opportunity to have public comment today. So I would like to ask Mr. Decker, please read the first name.
Robert Taylor, commenting on 120286. (Witness approached podium.)
Members of Council, ladies and gentlemen. I'm Robert Taylor, a citizen of South Philadelphia. I'm commenting on Resolution 120286, the Castle Doctrine law. This body wants to call for the repeal of the Castle Doctrine law, quote, before someone suffers loss and anguish of a preventable death, end quote. There's no support for the ideal that that doctrine is dangerous to the innocent public. Therefore, there is no real basis for the resolution. We know that according to an article entitled "Real Killers in America - Where Do Guns Rank," they, quote, account for 1.5 percent of fatal accidents based on the National Centers for Health Statistics. They are lower than the death by choking on food, fires, drowning, motor vehicle accidents, medical errors or prescription drugs. Firearms are, therefore, safer than any form -- any other form of activity widely conducted by man. The Castle Doctrine goes back to England under the Magna Carta, and it's enshrined in the federal and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Constitutions. The right to keep and bear arms are protected by both of these documents. An oath was taken January 2nd, 2012 by every member of this body to obey the Constitution. One is bound by honor to uphold this oath. Quote, What is a Constitution? It is a form of government of fundamental laws that are established. The Constitution is certainly fixed. It contains the permanent will of the people, and it is the supreme law of the land. It is paramount to the power of the Legislature and can be revoked or altered only by the authority that made it. The life-giving principle and the death-dealing stroke must proceed from the same hand. What are Legislatures? Creatures of the Constitution. They owe their existence to the Constitution. They derive their powers from the Constitution. It is their commission and, therefore, all of their acts must be comfortable to it or else it will be void. Whatever may be the case in other countries, yet in this, there can be no doubt that every act of legislation repugnant to the Constitution is absolutely void, Van Horne's Lessee versus Dorrance. Thank you for your time and attention, and God bless Pennsylvania.
Mr. Doug Smith, commenting on 120279. (Witness approached podium.)
Thank you, Mr. President. My name is Doug Smith. I'm the Vice President of State Government Affairs for Verizon. I'm here to speak on Resolution 120279, which authorizes the Committee on Public Property to hold public hearings to review the status of the City's video franchise agreement with Verizon. I would like to first thank all of the Councilmembers and staff members who took the time to meet with me on this subject, including the co-sponsor. I had the good fortune to meet with almost all of you. Let me be clear. A hearing on the FiOS project is not needed, and I ask the sponsor to table this resolution. The City and Verizon agreed to a vehicle for the review of our FiOS project, and we both signed a contract that spells out the review process, which falls under the Philadelphia CIO. We have had reviews and our results have never been challenged. The sponsor claims to have information, suggesting Verizon is out of compliance with the contract. Let me be clear again. We are in compliance. The first contractual benchmark test point doesn't even occur until 2013 and other test points are years beyond that. However, to dispel the sponsor's fears and demonstrate why a hearing is not needed, Verizon provided each of your offices with a one-page summary of the facts. These facts can be shared publicly and are sensitive to the contract, which has considerable proprietary restrictions. These summary facts come from proprietary reports filed with the City agencies such as OEO and CIO. Any hearing that this resolution calls for will hear the same recitation of the same summary facts. The data shows that Verizon is on schedule to meet and exceed the bill requirements outlined in the contract. It also shows that we are building in low-income neighborhoods. The sponsor claims that he heard from unnamed sources that we aren't building in those low-income neighborhoods. We don't do business like that, and it's a contractual obligation that we take very seriously. Verizon is on schedule and in many cases ahead of schedule to meet the requirements of this contract. We are proud of the commitments we made to Philly as well as the economic impact the FiOS project has had in the City and the jobs it has created. The FiOS project has brought competition to the cable TV market in this town, and your constituents are benefiting from the price and service competition. In response to the millions of dollars of investment and the flow-through benefits of that investment in a very difficult economic environment, Verizon is rewarded with this resolution calling for hearings based on unreliable sources that are simply wrong. So I ask the sponsor to table this resolution and acknowledge that I am personally available to meet with him or any member of Council to update the FiOS progress, as I have done with many of you. Table it and use the vehicle detailed in the franchise executed by Verizon and the City of Philadelphia for review of the FiOS project. Table it. Thank you.
Thank you, sir. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Mr. President. I want to assure the body and the speaker that I have no fears in this regard, and to quote Shakespeare, I think he doth protest too much. When a large national corporation tells a body that there's no need for hearings, that's generally a pretty good reason why we should have them. It's informational. This is a public contract. It should be discussed in public. They have proprietary concerns. I understand that, but we issued this -we awarded this franchise I think in 2009 or whatever it was in a public way, in a public forum. This is the public's business. The Chairman of the Committee has agreed to hold the hearing. I don't know when we're going to call it or if we're going to call it, but the more and more agitation I sense on the part of Verizon, the more and more I suspect we should have the hearing. So it won't be tabled. It will go up or down, and I would ask my colleagues' support simply for an informational hearing, which I don't think is really a big stretch. Thank you, Mr. President. (Applause.)
Niko Rayer, commenting on 120254. (Witness approached podium.)
Good morning. My name is Niko Rayer and I represent North Philadelphia Food Not Bombs. I am here to voice our collective outrage and disgust with Mayor Nutter's ban on serving homeless Philadelphians in the Museum District in Center City Philadelphia. This is an attack on our most vulnerable brothers and sisters and absolutely must be stopped. What we do and many others like us is not as simple as providing meals to the hungry. Mayor Nutter seems to think we dole out a plate of food and send desperate, struggling people into the night. We don't do that, and no other groups do. Some provide comfort and food. Some provide clothing and toiletries, medications, IDs and reference to others who can help with mind, body and spirit. Each person has very specific needs, and there is no singular device to satisfy them. We stand without shame with those who have fallen on the hardest of times and who are forced into a life Mayor Nutter clearly has no understanding of. We care deeply about the homeless and all struggling people, and we do everything in our means to help them, and we support others who are also engaged in this work. Mayor Nutter wants to move the homeless off the streets inside where they can receive services, he says, that can only be received inside of a building. While this line of thinking is laughable, if he really believed that, then how could he possibly allow the City-run Ridge Avenue men's shelter to be shut down? Why doesn't he propose even one permanent option for new indoor homeless services? If the Mayor actually cared about homeless people like he says he does, why would he try to starve them into going into his one-year-only feeding pen attached to City Hall? To quote directly from Mayor Nutter himself, Philadelphia has, quote, neither the means nor the ability to prevent an increase in hunger, and we know that access to food is vital for individual and community health, end quote. If you take him for his word, then there is no other logical conclusion than to not only encourage but to actively promote outside organizations to fill in this critical gap that the City is increasingly incapable of handling. We don't receive one dime of funding from the City. We never have and we never will. In fact, we have donated our resources to various City programs for many years and never asked for anything in return. And despite the Mayor's harshness and foolishness, we will continue to distribute our resources as widely as our energy will take us. What Mayor Nutter is proposing does nothing to bring dignity to the homeless. It will only increase their suffering. There are many valid approaches to ending homelessness and hunger, but banning sharing with the hungry may be the worst approach ever devised. Hunger is a disease and it is spreading. To acknowledge hunger and its pervasiveness and in your next breath attempt to suffocate the only people who freely give of themselves to fight that problem is not only reprehensible but an outright disgrace to our city. (Applause.)
Thank you for your comment. Is there anyone else here to testify who has signed up? 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING (No response.)
There being none, thank you very much. We will now consider the resolutions and bills on the Second Reading and Final Passage Calendar. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution No. 120150-A.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Center City Redevelopment Area, designated as Parcel No. 46 and also sometimes identified by house number and street address as 2017 through 23 Chestnut Street.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, please read the title of Resolution 120279.
A resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Property to hold public hearings to review the status of the City's franchise agreement with Verizon Pennsylvania, Inc., particularly on the company's progress in making cable television service available across the City.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.) 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, No. 120280.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for redevelopment and urban renewal of a portion of the Model Cities Urban Renewal Area, identified by house numbers and street addresses as 2212 North Eleventh Street, 2247 North Twelfth Street, 2226 2242, 2250 and 2317 North Camac Street, 1200, 1215, 1220 and 1227 West Dauphin Street, 2336 North Fawn Street, 1108 West Nevada Street, 1213, 1219 and 1221 and 1229 West Susquehanna Avenue. 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 120280 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 120282.
A resolution authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to execute and deliver to the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority, without consideration, deeds conveying conditional fee simple title to certain City-owned lots or pieces of ground with 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING the buildings and improvements thereon, situate in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Wards of the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. The resolution is adopted. Mr. Decker, 120283.
A resolution approving the redevelopment contract and disposition supplement of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority for the redevelopment and urban renewal of a 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING portion of the North Philadelphia Redevelopment Area, designated as Parcel No. 1 and also sometimes identified by house number and street address as 2652 North Orkney Street.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 120283 is adopted. Mr. Decker, No. 120285.
A resolution authorizing the joint committees on 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Public Health and Human Services and Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to examine the progress anti-poverty organizations and agencies such as the Mayor's Office of Community Services are making in the alleviation of poverty in the City of Philadelphia.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. I would like to speak to the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
I'm sorry. It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
The ayes have it. Resolution 120285 is adopted. Mr. Decker, 120286.
A resolution urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to repeal its expansion of the "Castle Doctrine" law, Pennsylvania's version of "Stand Your Ground" legislation, before someone in Pennsylvania experiences the loss and anguish of a preventable death.
Thank you, Mr. President. One of the great things about our Constitution is freedom of speech. We heard today about the impacts of the possible passage of this resolution, but there's no one in this Chamber that can deny the events in South Florida have brought attention to the permissive gun 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING laws everywhere but, in particular, right here in River City in Philadelphia. Like many of you, I was distraught by what happened in Florida. I have sons just like the President. My sons look like Trayvon Martin. Like many of you, I've enjoyed from time to time some iced tea and some Skittles, even wearing a hoodie. Like many of you, all too often I go to teddy bear memorial funerals on street corner after street corner in the City of Philadelphia. What this Castle Doctrine does is creates a vigilante mentality, an open season on people in fear of fear, and what it does is stereotypes too many of our young people and gives people that have ill-intent a reason to act out. I think that by being the Chair of Public Safety, I would be remiss, this body would be remiss if we did not send some type of signal to Harrisburg to tell them that permissive gun laws which you and other members of this Council have 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING fought against, we still raise our voice in opposition. We see the unintended consequences of a doctrine like this and its impacts in Florida but have rippling effects nationally. At the end of the day, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's interpretation of deadly force puts all of us in imminent danger. It's like the Wild Wild West vigilante mentality brought here to Philadelphia. And as summer approaches, as summer approaches here in Philadelphia, we have to send this signal now to let people know, cease fire. Life is important. No matter what the color of the victim or the perpetrator, the salient count in a tear is the same. So let us raise our voices to speak to our fellow legislators in Harrisburg by adopting this resolution. Thank you, Mr. President. (Applause.)
4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman O'Brien.
Thank you, Mr. President. The Castle Doctrine involves, as the Majority Leader articulated, the use of deadly force, and the law in Pennsylvania changed those rules. Under the old law, if you could retreat safely, you had an obligation to do so. In the new law, you don't have an obligation to retreat. The reality that the Pennsylvania District Attorney's Association faced with the initial draft was that every bad guy would just simply say, I'm in fear for my life, to justify the use of deadly force. I would like to applaud the Pennsylvania District Attorney's Association for making some substantive changes. The Pennsylvania's commanding Castle Doctrine gives people the right to 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING use deadly force without retreating anywhere. They are allowed to be, provided they believe they are facing death, serious injury, kidnapping or rape. The differences that the DA's Association effectively achieved in Pennsylvania were that the elimination of the duty to retreat outside your home does not apply in Pennsylvania if the assailant is not armed with a gun or other lethal weapon capable of inflicting severe injury or death. The most important is that the shooter illegally possesses the firearm or the person against whom the deadly force is used is a law enforcement officer and the shooter knew or should have known that fact and the shooter is engaged in criminal activity related to the underlying confrontation. Now, although these changes helped significantly, the challenges that law enforcement faces remain in venues 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING such as if the incident takes place on a porch, in the driveway or where the incident is connected to road rage. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes no one. That disappeared. Thank you. Councilman Jones, would you like to make a motion.
I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Mr. President, I'd like my vote to be 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING recorded as no.
Councilman O'Neill shall be recorded as voting no.
You're welcome. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120004.
An ordinance to amend the Philadelphia Zoning Maps by changing the zoning designations of certain areas of land located within an area bounded by Torresdale Avenue, Megargee Street, Cottage Street, Placid Street, Frankford Avenue, and Tolbut Street.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move that the bill be voted upon.
Councilman, my mistake. It's a bill. 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING It's going to be a roll call. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes have it; 17, zero. This bill having been read on two different days, it has now passed finally. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120171.
An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012 from the Grants Revenue Fund, the Director of Finance Provision for Other Grants to the Hotel Room Rental Tax Fund, the Director of Commerce.
This bill having been read on two separate days, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. Mr. Decker, please read the title of 120252.
An ordinance authorizing transfers in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012 within the General Fund from the Office of Property Assessment to the Law Department. 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
This bill having been read on two different days, the question now is shall the bill pass finally. Mr. Decker, please call the roll.
Aye. The ayes are 17; the nays are zero. The bill is adopted. The Clerk will please read any additional resolutions on today's Calendar.
A privileged resolution recognizing the contributions of Philadelphia's alternative and ethnic newspapers and the strong support given them under the banner of the Philadelphia Multi-Cultural Media Network and its new masthead, The Liberty City Press, introduced by Councilman Kenney.
I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Those in favor? (Aye.)
And a privileged resolution recognizing the week of April 22nd to April 28th as Jamaica Week in Philadelphia in honor of Jamaica's 50th Independence Anniversary, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for its adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING Those opposed? (No response.)
And a privileged resolution declaring June 2012 as Local Independent Media Month in Philadelphia and recognizing the Americans for Democratic Action for their work in promoting economic and social justice, introduced by Councilwoman Blackwell.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a privileged resolution honoring Commissioner Joan M. Schlotterbeck upon her retirement and recognizing her years of service and dedication to the City of Philadelphia, especially her accomplishments as the Commissioner of the Department of Public Property, introduced by Councilman Greenlee.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
Those opposed? (No response.) 4/19/12 - STATED - 2ND READING
And a privileged resolution declaring the historic Gazela Primeiro as the official Tall Ship of the City of Philadelphia, introduced by Councilman Oh.
Thank you, Mr. President. I move for the adoption of the resolution. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
There are no other resolutions on the Final Passage Calendar, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. Decker. That completes our Calendar for today. Are there any speeches on the part of the minority? (No response.)
There being none, are there any speeches on the part of the majority? The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Sanchez.
Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to take note and congratulate the Philadelphia Inquirer on its Pulitzer Prize on a very important issue, which was violence in the schools. I believe that their reporting has helped enlighten many of the folks in the community about the challenges that we face in the School District, and we want to congratulate them and thank them on we talked with Digital Media that we may lose our print media, but as someone who looks forward to opening up that paper every morning, I hope that they will be around for many, many years to come. And also recognize many of you helped me celebrate my niece, Quiara Alegria Hughes, who also won a Pulitzer Prize. It's been a good week for Philadelphia. Quiara is an example of what potential many of our Philadelphia School District students have. She's a proud graduate of Philadelphia public schools. So as we celebrate both of these issues for Philadelphia, it brings me back to the challenges we have as we debate the School District budget. Let these two prizes for Philadelphia be an example of why the debate on the School District's budget and the concerns we should have about whether to fund it or not, it is a concern and it's also an example of our potential, and that's why I want to support them both. Thank you.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Henon.
Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, and I have lived there my entire life. I have watched the neighborhoods where I grew up slowly deteriorate. It's time to prioritize code enforcement in the City of Philadelphia. Code enforcement is the number one defense we have against blight and the deterioration of our neighborhoods. Knocking down vacant buildings is only a part of the solution. We need to start thinking about how and why our buildings fall into disarray, about why they become place, about the way we respond when the first call comes in from a resident about short dumping, about broken windows, about trash on the lawn and any other property maintenance issues. These problems start small, but over time they can morph into problems that have disastrous outcomes. The Administration, Council and the courts have to work together to a address these issues. Even the most well-intentioned laws are meaningless if they aren't enforced. The silo system does not work. These issues are all intertwined. We need a strategy. We need a plan, and we need to collaborate. Today I introduced legislation, partnered with most of our colleagues here today, to create a Problem Property Task Force. The purpose of that legislation is to establish a creative and collaborative model for addressing properties that have the greatest impact on the quality of our neighborhoods. The the problems of habitual offenders, of people who repeatedly violate the law. The goal is to start to change the behavior. In addition, I believe that what we also should be holding people accountable for are the following laws that are already on the books. I recently introduced legislation to hold hearings with L&I and Public Safety -that's a resolution, by the way -- and Public Safety about some of these quality of life issues, and that resolution authorizes the Committees to issue subpoenas to compel witnesses to testify. In partnership with Councilwoman Sanchez and Majority Leader Jones, I plan to use that authorization. Today I would like to announce that in addition to the departments that are responsible for keeping our city clean and safe, the following individuals will be asked to testify at that hearing about the properties they may own: DeMarco, Blair DeMarco, Martin J. Brennan, Anthony Cantelieri, Michael Mulla, Wayne Brooks, Walter Aldikowski, James Walsh and others. I will release the names of additional witnesses over the next week. If they are willing to come voluntarily, great. If not, subpoenas will be issued. I believe that Philadelphians live up to their expectations of their community. I believe that we can change the culture of this city. I believe that together we can improve the quality of our lives and the lives of every Philadelphian. I invite our partnership and collaboration, and thank you for your support and support of this effort as we move forward. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Mr. President. I wanted to just take a moment and acknowledge that we have one of Philadelphia's great labor leaders with us here today, and that will be Mr. John Johnson, Jr. of TWU Local 234. I was wondering if he and his party could stand. Beyond the President, we also have the -(Applause.)
Also joining him is the Recording Secretary, Mr. Bill Bannon, Jr.; Political Director, Dave Szczepanski; and TWU's staffer, Stewart Bass, no relation, and Executive Board members Adam Williams and Ralph Branch. And I thank them for coming out today in support of a resolution that I introduced in support of Senate Bill 236 introduced by State Senator Christine Tartaglione regarding assault on penalty. There is an epidemic among some folks in our community who feel that they can attack, assault, threaten public service workers and bus drivers and transit operators in general. So as we have this public discussion, I just wanted to really encourage my colleagues to talk to members of TWU and other public service workers and find out what they go through on a regular basis. I think some of the stories that you will hear will shock you. They will sadden you. But they will prompt us, I believe, into further action. So I think that this is something that we can use as an opportunity to send a message to Harrisburg and also send a message to people in the communities who feel that it's okay to assault public service workers and SEPTA workers in particular. Thank you.
you, Councilwoman. The Chair now recognizes Councilman Green.
Thank you, Mr. President. I just want to take a brief moment to thank you for holding public testimony out in the neighborhoods this budget year. I received tremendous feedback last night as we left the Kroc Center, Salvation Army Center from the 40 or 50 people who showed up to testify before us. Their concerns and the things they testified about are real, funding for the parks, funding for the schools, the need for there to be activities for youth to keep them out of trouble during the weekends and nights and over the summer, summer jobs, all things that are very important to all Philadelphians, and it's tremendous to be able to go in the neighborhoods and give people the opportunity -- you can't always make it -- the opportunity to speak to City Council. So it was a wonderful event hosted by Councilmember Jones and Bass for their districts, and I just want people to know that we listened to what they had to say and we're going to work on it. Thank you, Mr. President.
Thank you, Councilman, and thank all of the members for their participation. As witnessed last night, it was really appreciated by the residents that we came out. And I just want to make sure to give Councilwoman Bass and Jones their just due. I've been informed that it was actually 100 people there last night. The Chair recognizes Councilman Johnson.
Thank you, Mr. President. I also too want to just acknowledge the budget hearings that took were very informative, and I just want to commend my two colleagues, Councilwoman Cindy Bass as well Majority Leader Councilman Curtis Jones, and you, Mr. President, for your leadership in taking government out on the road so we can hear the needs and concerns and issues of the people. I also want to just make an announcement regarding my first job and career fair, which will be taking place tomorrow at Myers Recreation Center, 58th and Chester Avenue from 11 o'clock to 1 o'clock. So I want to encourage, first and foremost, constituents from the 2nd Councilman District as well as constituents throughout the City of Philadelphia, citywide, who may be interested in attending to come dressed for success. We have more than 60 employers who will be on hand, not so much taking resumes and asking people to go online to apply but looking at taking resumes and spot. So I just want to put that announcement out there. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilman. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you very much. I'd just like to announce that I got a call a couple of weeks ago from Fred Shabel of the Ed Snider Foundation, Hockey Foundation, and I want to announce that they have taken on the project to make Tarken Recreation Center, which is located at Frontenac and Levick Street in the northeast part of my district -- it's not just the west side, it's the northeast side -- to convert that skating rink, ice skating rink, into one of the Ed Snider skating rinks. We have one now in the 9th on the west side. It's Simons Recreation Center. So we're real pleased that they Tarken to their list of the wonderful skating rinks they have outfitted in the City of Philadelphia. And it's amazing that we met about three weeks ago and Thursday night -- Tuesday night they had the plans. So I wish our Capital Programs Office could move as fast, because sometimes it takes about five years to get the plans before you could even get to the project. So, look, they need to take a lesson from them. Thank you. But we're real pleased and want to thank Mr. Snider and the Ed Snider Foundation as well as the state, who provided some of the funding for the project.
And I'd also like to announce that on Sunday afternoon at 6 o'clock, I will be dancing with the Philadelphia Stars. (Applause.)
I join my colleague, Councilwoman Brown, who danced a couple of years ago. I'm not looking to win. I just want to get through it. But I want to say that the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation is a worthwhile cause and this program does benefit that program and it provides education to the African American, Latino community about sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia was sort of like on the top until the issue of HIV/AIDS came along. And so it got sort of shifted back. So we need to let people know and educate them that there is a problem in the community regarding sickle cell anemia. So my colleagues, if you'd like to come, anyone listening, we have to have the notification by tomorrow, and they can go to www.dancingwiththephiladelphiastars and send a check in. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Councilwoman. Very informative. No other members wish to be recognized? That being the case, the Chair now recognizes Councilwoman Brown for a motion to adjourn.
I would certainly make a motion, Mr. President. I need to echo two things. One, the Dancing with the Stars is an experience, an entertaining experience and lots of fun, and it's one of the few events in the City where you can go and see a rich mix of Philadelphians who care about the art form as well as the disease. Secondly, John F. Kennedy said it best on the topic of leadership wherein he stated that leadership and learning are indispensable. And so we would be remiss not to -- or I would be remiss not to join the chorus of those saluting your leadership last night and your willingness to join with members, Councilmembers, who care deeply about their district. It was extremely informative and really offered us guideposts as to how we should be proceeding with this budget. With that said, Mr. President, I move that Council stand adjourned until Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. (Duly seconded.)
It's been moved and properly seconded. Those in favor? (Aye.)
The ayes have it. m. Thank you. ) CERTIFICATE I HEREBY CERTIFY that the proceedings, evidence and objections are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me upon the foregoing matter on April 19, 2012, and that this is a true and correct transcript of same. MICHELE L. ) A adjourn 101:8 alarms 32:25 Applause 8:5 12:9 area 13:11 29:5 abandoned 90:2 adjourned 102:8 Aldikowski 92:4 14:9 15:4 18:23 29:15 41:22 ability 59:11 102:19 Alegria 88:11 20:21 24:10 42:15 43:20 able 6:16 95:23 ADJOURNME...